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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize exceptional comfort, active noise cancelling for air travel, and a very good overall sound quality, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones are the better choice, especially since they also excel for TV and gaming. However, these headphones are more expensive and might not be as convenient for exercise due to their size and weight. On the other hand, the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 earbuds offer very good portability and are sweatproof, making them suitable for exercise, and still provide very good sound quality, but they may fall short in mic quality and are not the best for calls, gaming, and watching TV. They are also less expensive than the Bose model, so if budget and exercise use are your main concerns, the Bowers and Wilkins could be a better fit. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Best in class for air travel
Advantages of the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2
- The Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has no clear advantages over the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones.
Key differences
Music
8.3
6.7
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is very good for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is only fair.
Gaming
9.3
5.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is poor.
TV and Video
9.0
5.6
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is very good.
Battery
29.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life. The Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$429
$149
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has a price of $429 and the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 costs $149.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.3
5.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
5.6
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones to be only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is poor.
Build Quality
9.0
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones to have excellent build quality, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones | Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $149 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Bowers and Wilkins | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 5.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 29 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | 0.75 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 19 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 255 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Christian Thomas | January 2024
"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a credible step up from previous Bose ANC headphones, and they're built to hang tough with the competition for years into the future. No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown, but these headphones have the technical chops to make most quite happy."
Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2
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Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Chris Golembeski | January 2023
"Bowers and Wilkins isn’t looking to make an obscure, premium wireless bud catered specifically towards audiophiles. Instead, it seems apparent that they’re going for the crown: a cool and popular look, an easy and comfortable fit, and an engaging stage with a great balance that is perfectly suited for mainstream listeners and audiophiles alike."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones or the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
About Bowers and Wilkins
Bowers and Wilkins is a British audio equipment manufacturer with a focus on innovation and product development. It was founded by a couple of real-life James Bonds, the co-founders John Bowers and Roy Wilkins, who met while working for MI6 during World War II. The company keeps being favored by enthusiasts due to their sound quality, craftsmanship and signature aesthetics.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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